Mechanical gas gun protective system



53m, 13, 1932. F. J. BRIDGEMAN 1,%9,67

MECHANICAL GAS GUN PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed'May 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. J. BRIDGEMAN MECHANICAL GAS GUN PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed May 6, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1932. F, BR GEM N v 1,890,670

MECHANICAL GAS GUN PROTECTIVE SYSTEM Filed May 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fatent Dec. 3.3, 1332 OHIO ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE ERIE :o, OHIO, .A- CORPORATION or onto CAL GAS GUN FROTECTIVE SYSTEM Application filed'flay 6, 1932. Serial No. 609,738.

This invention relates to a mechanical gas gun protective system, for protection against day-light robbery, the mechanical protection system adapted for use for the protection of banks, stores, ofices, etc., where valuables are usually kept. An object of the invention is to provide a self-contained mechanical gas gun protec- .tion system which is actuated by the stored 0 energy of springs, the system including tension wires some of which are suitably connected to spring actuated controls to be 0perated by persons being held-up, by a daylight robber or bandit, and other tension wires being connected to spring actuated gas guns.

A further object is to provide a self-con- I tained mechanical gas gun protection system that does not require the use of a source of electric energy, compressed air, or other outside source of power.

A further object is to provide a plurality of cross-connected master release blocks, connected to suitable controls and to gas guns,

to increase the capacity of the protective system, the operation of any one control actuating all of the release blocks and discharging all of the guns. ,7

A further object is to provide a means con 0 sisting of a release block which is suitably inserted in a tension wire circuit, to add additional energy to the system and overcome any lag in the travelling tension wire, and also to discharge aplurality of guns from any one control.

A further object is to provide a cheap and reliable self-containing mechanical gas gun protection system that has no exposed moving parts, is positive in action, permanent, and easy to install.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.

5 v In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an installation of a mechanical system for operating a plurality of gas guns from any one of several controls; I

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an installation of a control connected to a release and a gas gun;

Fig. 3 1s a broken longitudinal sectional view of a release on the line 3-3, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4. is a longitudinal transverse section of a release on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of one type of movable element, shown as a top plate;

- Fig. 6 is a broken plan view of an upper intermediate cross bar;

Fig. 7 is a broken plan view of a second intermediate cross bar;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of another type of release, or intermediate release, on the line 88 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 9 is a broken sectional view resembling Fig. 8, with the release in the discharged position, on the line 8,8 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 10 is a. side view of the intermediate release shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a broken top plan view of Fig. 3

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a washer attached to a trigger on the line 1212 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a complete release with the cover. removed and showing one of the triggers released;

Fig. 14 is a view of the release shown in Fig. 13 with the front cover attached, but with the right side of the cover removed;

Fig. 15 is a view partly in plan, and part of the interior in elevation showing one half of the cover on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14 removed; and

Fig. 16 is a top view partly in plan and partly in elevation of Fig. 15, with a part of the top of the cover removed.

In Fig. 1, which illustrates an installation for ten controls and eight spring actuated gas guns, a suitable control 1 contains a mov- 1 able member not shown, which releases a tension wire 2, the latter is connected to a trigger 4, in a master release block 3, a discharge rod 5 adjacent the trigger 4 is shown as connected to a spring actuated gas gun 7 by a tension wire 6. Additional triggers identical with trigger 4 in the release block 3 are shown connected to tension wires 8 which latter lead to controls, not shown, resembling the control 1. Additional discharge rods identical with discharge rod 5 in the release block 3, are shown connected by tension wires 9 to spring actuated gas guns 10. At the left side of the release block 3 is 'a discharge rod 11 connected by tension wire 12 to a trigger 14 in the second release block 13, and adjacent the trigger 14 is a discharge rod 15 connected by the tension wire 16 to a trigger 17 in the release block 3. At the left side of release block 13 a trigger 18, is shown connected by a tension wire 19 to a control 20, resembling control 1. Additional triggers on the release block 13 are connected to tension wires 21, which latter lead to controls, not shown, resembling control 1. Additional discharge rods on the release block 13 are connected to tension wires 22 leading to spring actuated gas guns'23. The discharge rod 24 in the release block 13 is shown connected by a long 6 length of tension wire 25 to an intermediate release 26, and a tension wire 27 leads from the intermediate release 26 to the spring actuated gun 28. Release blocks 3 and 13 resemble each other in construction, are shown inthe set position, and are described hereafter.

In Fig. 2, an installation of a single control, release, and gun are illustrated. A control 31, resembling control 1 is shown connected by the tension wire 32 to the release 33, a tension wire 34 leads from the release 33 to the spring actuated gas gun 35. I

The tension wire 2, etc.'sometimes called a Bowden wire, consists of a central steel wire 80, with a flexible metallic casing 81, shown in Figs. 3 and 8, and other figures; when installing, the central wire 80 is drawn as tightly as possible to compress the several v springs 53 to the maximum extent in order that all of the energy stored in the compressed springs will be utilized when the mechanical gas protection system is actuated.

In Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, and Figs. 1-1 to 16 inclusive, are .shown in considerable detail the construction and operation of the master release blocks 3 and 13. In Figs. 3 and 4 upon a base 35. are mounted the perforated crossbars 36, 37, and 38, in any suitable manner, the cross bars 36 and 37 serving as guides for triggersand discharge rods des"ribed here-v after. Above the cross-bar 36 is placed a movableelement, shown as a perforated plate 39, Figs. 3 and 5, supported on ball bearings 40, Fig. 11 held in recesses 41, in the cross bar 36, Fig. 6; the plate is normally pressed toward the-left by the leaf spring 42, Figs. 3

. and 13. The plate 39 is provided with holes 43, 44, which are adapted to register with the holes 45, 46, in the cross bar 36', and with holes 47, 48 in cross bar 37, Fig. 7. The plate 39 has slotted holes 49, Fig. 5, through which are inserted screws 50, Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3. the plate 39 is normally pressed to the left by the leaf spring.42,-and the holes 43, 44, are out of register with the holes 45, 46, re-

spectively, in the cross-bar 36,. when the master release blocks 3 and 13 are in the set position. In Figs. 15 and 16, one half of the cover plate 83 is shown broken,.the cover is secured to the release blocks 3 and 13 by suitable bolts 84.

In Figs. 3, 4, 13, 14and 15, a... trigger plungers 4 are inserted in the holes 45 and 47 of the cross-bars 36 and 37 respectively, Figs. 6 and 7, and are actuated by the springs 53; near the bottom of the triggers are placed stop-washers 54, Fig. 12, which limit their upward movement when the triggers are released. At the bottom of the triggers are attached the tension wires 2, 8, 19, etc., Fig. 1, which pass through the bottom plate 38, and lead to the controls 1 20, etc. The tops of the triggers 4 are constructed to center and bring into alinement the plate 39 by being made cone-shaped as shown at 55. In the holes 46 and 48 of cross-bars 36 and 37 rerespectively, Figs. 3, 6 and 7, are inserted the discharge rods 5; to the bottoms of the discharge rods are attached the tension wires 9, 22, 25, Fig. 1, which pass through the bottom plate 38 and lead to the spring actuated guns 7, 10, etc., Fig. 1. The top'ends of the rods 5 are grooved as shown at 57, Figs. 3 and 13, and provided with heads 58, the rods 5 are adapted to pass through the holes44 of plate 39, Figs. 5 and 13, and be detachably engaged by the plate 39 which holds the rods 5, by the grooves 57, as shown in Fig. 3 when the plate- 39. is moved to the left thereby placing theholes 43 and 44 eccentric with holes 45, 46, in cross bar 36, and the master releases 3 and 13 are in the set position. When an extra long tension wire is used as at 25, an intermediate release 26, Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10, is connected in the circuit. lease 26 consists of a block in which are chambers 61 and 62-, drilled from opposite ends, the chamber 61 being closed by a plug 63. Within the cha1nber'61 is a trigger 64 provided with a groove 65, and adapted to be actuated by the spring 66; the bottom of the 25. In the chamber 62 is inserted the dis- ,charge rod 67, the bottom of which is connected to the tension wire 27, which leads to the distant spring actuated n 28, Fig. 1. The upper end of the rod 6 is grooved at 68.- Through the walls of the block 60 is drilled a; hole 69 through which is inserted the ball 70. When the intermediate release is in'the set position, Fig. 8,-the trigger 64 is pulled down compressing the spring 66, the ball 70 resting against the side of the head of the trigger 64, and in the groove 68 of the rod 67 locking said rod. The mechanical gas gun protection system is now in the set position throughout.

The operation of the mechanical system is as follows. g

If a daylight bank robber, or bandit, should The intermediate rema am by other means, and release the tension wire 2, or 19, according to which control was-actuated; the released tension wires 2, 19, etc.

will release the respective triggers 4, 18, of

the master release blocks 3, 13, connected thereto. If the control 1 was actuated, tension wire 2, would release the trigger 4, F ig. 3, which would immediately be driven upwards by the spring 53, the coneshaped end of the trigger 4, entering the hole -13 of the plate 5, Figs. 3 and 5, which is shown in the set or eccentric position, Fig. 3, moving the plate 5 to the right as shown in Fig. 13. This movement of the plate 5 to the right would place the holes 43, 44. in the concentric position with the holes 45, 46, Fig. 13, thereby releasing the discharge rods 5 from their engagement with the plate 39 by the groove 57, and all of the rods 5 would be pulled down by their tension wires 9, as shown in Fig. 13 and discharge the spring actuated guns 7 and 10.

In Fig. 1, the discharge rod 11 at the left end of the master release 3 is connected by the tension wire 12 to the trigger 14 of the master release 13. and when the control 1 is actuated. operating the master release3, the rod 11 drops along with the remaining rods 5, thereby releasing its tension wire and actuating the trigger 1-1 in the master release 13, which immediately releases all of the discharge rods therein. and discharging the guns 23 and 28 which are connected by the tension wires 22 and 25. If the control 20, or any other control which is connected to i the master release 13. is operated, the release 13 is actuated as described above under the master release 3, settingfree all of the dis charge rods contained therein including the rod 15 which is connected by tension wires 16 E to the trigger 17 of the master release block 3; the actuation of the trigger 17 will move the plate 39 of the release block 3 immediate ly setting free all of the discharge rods 5 therein, and'discharge the spring actuated guns 7 and 10. Both master release blocks 3 and 13, with all of the guns connected thereto, are accordingly immediately actuated by the operation of any one of the controls 1, 20, etc, that is connected to either of the master release blocks.

When a gun, for example gun 28. Fig. 1. is located at a considerable distance from either of the master release blocks. requiring the use of a long tension wire. 25, 27, the travelling tension wire 80 within the casing 81 may experience a lag due to friction of the travelling wire through its surrounding casing, the friction may be suilicient to prevent the prompt discharge of the gun 28. In such case, one or more intermediate releases, one

of which is shown at 26, Figs. 1, 8, 9, and 10, may beinserted in the tension wire circuit. In Fig. 8, the tension wire 25, is connected to the trigger 64, and a discharge rod 67 is connected to the tension wire 27, which leads to the gun 28. Upon the release of the tension wire 25, a spring 66 drives the trigger 6-l upwards as shown in Fig. 9, and the ball 70 is driven into the groove of the trigger releasing the discharge rod 67 which is pulled down by the tension wire 27, Fig. 9, the release tension wire 27 discharging the spring actuated gun 28. i

I claim 1. A mechanical gas gun protection system, comprising a control, tension Wires, a release mechanism, a gas gun, said mechanism containing a trigger, a tension wire connected to said trigger, a dscharge rod, a tension wire connected to said discharge rod and said gun, means engaging said discharge rod in the set position, said means adapted to be disengaged from sa d rod by said trigger when said tr'gger is released and liberate said rod and discharge said gun.

2. A mechanical gas gun protection system, comprising the combination of a control, tension wires, a master release, and a gas gun, said master release containing a tr gger and a discharge rod. a first tension wire connecting sa d control and said trigger, and a second tension wire connecting said discharge rod and said gun.

3. A mechanical gas gun protection system, comprising the combination of a control, tension wires, a master release, and a gas gun, said master release containing a trigger and a dscharge rod, a movable element on said release adapted to detachably engage and hold said rod in the setl position, said movable element adapted to be disengaged from said rod by said trigger and release said rod and its tension wire and dischargesaid gun.

4. A mechan cal gas gun protection system, comprsing a control, tension wires, a release block, a gas gun. a first tension wire connecting said control and said release block, a second tension wire connecting said release block and said gun, said control adapted to release said first tension wire and actuate said release bloek, said release block adapted upon ts release to actuate said second tension wire and discharge said gun.

5. A mechanical gas gun protection system. comprising controls, tension wires, :1 master release block, and gas guns, said release block containing triggers and discharge rods, and a movable element, said movable element adapted to detachably engage said rods in the set posit on, a first tension wire connecting one of said controls and one of said triggers, a second tension wire connect ing one of said rods and one of said guns,

said control constructed to release its tension wire and actuate the trigger connected thereto, said trigger upon actuation constructed .to move sa d element and discharge said rods including the rod connected to the second tension wire, said discharged connected rod adapted to release said second tension wire, and discharge said gun.

6. A mechanical gas gun protection system, comprising controls, tension wires, at least one master release block, and gas guns, said release block contain ng a plurality. of triggers and a plurality of discharge rods, and a movable element, said movable element adapted to detachably engage and hold said rods in the set position, independent tension wires connecting controls and triggers, independent tension wires connecting rods and guns, each connected control constructed to release its tension wire and actuate the trigger connected thereto, said trigger upon actuation constructed to move said element and disengage said engaged rods, said disengaged rods adapted to release and discharge their connected guns by means of the connected tension wires.

7 A mechanical gas gun protection sys-' tem, comprising controls, tension wires, a plurality of master release blocks, spring actuated gas guns, each of said aster release blocks containing spring actuated triggers, discharge rods, and a movable element,

disengage the rods on said other release block, 1

a plurality ofrods on said release blocks connected by final tension wires to said guns, said plurality of rods upon release discharging all of said guns by means of said final tension Wires.

8. A mechanical gas gun protection system, comprising controls, tension wlres, a plurality of master release blocks, spring actuated gas guns, each of said master release blocks containing spring actuated triggers, discharge rods, and a movableelement, said movable element constructed to detachably engage the rods on its release block and hold said rods in the set position, tension wires connecting triggers and controls, each of said triggers on each release block con-,

structed to independently actuate the movable element on its release block and. release all of its engaged rods, a rod on one of said release blocks connected by a tension wire to a trigger on another release block and aeeaezo adapted when liberated to release said trigger on said other block and move the element and disengage the rods on said other release block, a plurality of rods on said release blocks connected by final tension wires to said guns, an intermediate release in one of said final tension wires, said plurality of rods upon release discharging all of said guns by means of said final tension wires.

,9. A release comprising a plurality of triggers, a plurality of discharge means, a movable element, said movable element adapted to be moved into a position to engage and hold said discharge means in the set position, said element adapted to be moved and disengaged from said engaged discharge means by any one of said triggers and set free said discharge means.

10. A release comprising a plurality of triggers, a plurality of discharge rods, guides for said triggers and discharge rods, springs to actuate said triggers, a movable element, said element constructed to detachably engage and hold said discharge rods in the set position, said elementadapted to be disengaged from said engaged discharge rod and release the same by any one of said triggers.

11,- A release comprlsing a plurality of triggers, a plurality of discharge rods, guides for said triggers and discharge rods, springs to actuate said triggers, said triggers provided with centering heads, a movable element, openingsin said element, adapted to be placed eccentric to said triggers when said element is moved, said element constructed to detachably engage said discharge rods when said openings are eccentric to said triggers, the centering head on any one of said triggers adapted to enter one of said openings in said element and move said elemelnt and disengage said engaged discharge ro s.

12. A release comprising a plurality of triggers, a plurality of discharge rods, guides for said triggers and discharge rods, s rings to actuate said triggers, said triggers a apted to be retracted and compressed, said spring, said triggers provided with centering heads, a movable element, openingsin said element adapted to be placed eccentric to said triggers, when said element is moved, said element constructed to detachably engage and hold said rod when said openingsare eccentric to said triggers, the centering head on any one of said triggers adapted to enter one of said eccentric openings in said element and move said element and disengage said engaged discharge rods.

13. An intermediate release comprising a retractable trigger, a spring toactuate said trigger, a discharge means, a movable element, said movable element adapted to engage and hold said discharge means in the set position when said trigger is retracted, said movable element adapted to be disenill gaged from said discharge means and release the same when said trigger is liberated.

14. An intermediate release comprising a retractable trigger, a spring to actuate said trigger, a discharge means, said trigger and discharge means adapted to be connected to a tension wire circuit, a movable element, said element adapted to engage and hold said discharge means in'the set position, and be held in said engagement by said retracted trigger, said movable element adapted to be released from its engagement with said discharge means and liberate the same when said trigger is liberated.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

FRANK J. BRIDGEMAN. 

